The LOVE Trust is a non-profit organization established in early 2009 to serve vulnerable children and their communities. The trust grew out of initiatives dating back to 1993 when Lily of the Valley in KZN was founded to serve children affected and infected by HIV and AIDS.

In 1997, Christ Church Midrand based in Gauteng, established an independent school – Christ Church Preparatory School and College – which offers quality, independent education to 515 learners from Grade 000 to Grade 12.

With the combined expertise of these two endeavours developed over a period of fifteen years, the LOVE Trust was established to create a model for development, focusing on vulnerable children and excellent education.

A Vision of Excellence with Education as Key

The LOVE Trust dreams of developing a generation of servant leaders for communities most in need. It is our belief that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and we hope to provide every one of our children with the best education possible.

If our children become successful entrepreneurs through the quality, values-based education they receive; if they are responsible, caring employers; if they act socially and environmentally responsibly; if they pay their taxes; and if they contribute to creating a thriving economy in their communities, then the Love Trust would have made a difference. If girls become doting mothers who go on to raise more servant leaders; if boys become responsible fathers and leaders in their home; if children grow up to be more concerned with the wellbeing of others than the acquisition of material things, then the country will be a better place.

This is how we will measure the impact of our work and whether or not we have been successful in our endeavours.

South African Children

• 66% of South African children (under 18 years of age) live below the poverty line of less than R1200 per month (Source: General Household Survey 2005, Leatt 2006)
• 55% of South African children live in ‘ultra-poor’ households with earnings below R800 per month (Source: General Household Survey 2005, Leatt 2006)
• 27% of child deaths are caused by conditions attributable to poor living standards Source: Bradshaw et al, 2004)

“For children from disadvantaged backgrounds, timely interventions can reverse the effects of poverty and maximise the development of a child’s potential.

One way of achieving this is by increasing access to quality early childhood development programmes. Pre-schools become the focal point and catalyst for wider community development and change.”

(Source: www.ntataise.co.za)

Tembisa, Gauteng

Greater Tembisa is a large township including informal settlements situated on the East Rand of Gauteng in South Africa. It was established in 1957 when black people were resettled from Johannesburg.

Statistics from 2001 show that over 40,000 children below the age of 5 years were living in Tembisa. The quality of education in Tembisa is significantly inadequate. Over 10% of the adult population have no schooling at all. Less than 5% have tertiary education. Only 35% of the economically active population are formally employed. Tembisa is educationally under-resourced with urgent needs in pre-school education.

In early 2009, LOVE Trust developed a plan to develop a viable, community centre in Tembisa by utilizing its experience gained over the past fifteen years. The proposed plan was to:

• Purchase and develop a centre
• Cultivate lasting relationships with the community
• Develop an Early Childhood Development Centre/Preschool
• Further expand this centre into an independent Primary and then later Secondary School
• Grow further community development projects based on the needs of the community

On 13 January 2010, Nokuphila opened its doors to 45 preschoolers aged four and five years old drawn from informal settlements on the western border of Tembisa. Children were admitted to the school based on their vulnerability and the willingness of the children’s caregivers to participate in the life of the school. The caregivers of all the children were interviewed prior to selection. The school is situated on border of Tembisa/Ivory Park. It is run by a highly experienced principal with over 15 years experience in Early Childhood Development. Our principal is supported by Ruth Nkomo – the Community Liaison Manager – whose role it is to build strong ties with the Tembisa and Ivory/Ebony Park communities.

The school provides the following services to its children:

• Quality pre-school education
• Christian values and teaching
• Meals: breakfast and lunch
• Transport to and from school
• After-Care Facility
• Extra curricula activities

This is only the beginning…

In 2011, Nokuphila School will offer Grade R and eventually grow to offering both primary and secondary education. Not only that, but we hope that the school will act as a facility or hub that will meet a number of other basic needs in the community. These services may include a place of safety for children in need, home based care, skills development and training, a feeding scheme and provision of basic health care.

Our mission is to plant a new school in an impoverished area every two years, with the intention of rolling out the model across the country.